Ice-cream scoop



7 H. E. KNAusT Feb. 18, 1941.

ICE-CREAM SCOOP Filed Jan. 8, 1940 FIG.

FIG. 2;

-FiG.i.

2 INVENTOR.

' HENRY E. KNAusT ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 18, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ICE-CREAM SCOOP of Missouri Application January 8, 1940, Serial No. 312,959

[A 10 Claims. (01, 107-48) I This invention relates to a certain new and useful improvement in ice-cream scoops and has for its primary objects the provision of a dispensing or serving scoop which is capable of taking up and discharging a serving-portion of icecream or the like without compacting the same or otherwise materially altering its normal usually infiated density, which is simple in construction, which may be' cheaply manufactured, which is durable and substantially unbreakable in or during normal use, which enables the successive serving of ice-cream portions substantially of constant or uniform shape, density, and homogeneity, which is exceedingly convenient in use and operation, and which is efficient and satisfactory in the performance of its stated functions.

And with the above and other objects in view, my invention resides in the novel features of form; construction, arrangement, and combination of parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing- Figures 1 and 2 illustrate in front and side elevation, respectively, an ice-cream scoop constructed in accordance with my invention with itscompanlon shells or segments in open or discharge position;

FigureB is a side elevational view of the scoop with its companion shells or segments in closed or load-carrying position;

Figures 4 and 5 are transverse sectional views of the scoop, taken approximately along the lines 4-4 and 5--5, Figures 1 and 2, respectively; and

Figures 6 and 7 are diagrammatic sectional views illustrating the scoop in operation.

Referring now more in detail and by reference characters to the drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment of my invention, the scoop includes a pair of rigid, preferably metallic companion members A, B, pivotally securedtogether intermediate their end, as at a, in crosswise or scissor-like formation. The member: A is suitably elongated and shaped to longitudinally comprise a somewhat lengthwise arcuate handle I and a somewhat lengthwise bowed forked or bifurcated shank 2, and the member 13 is likewise elongated and shaped to comprise a co-operable correspondingly lengthwise arcuate handle 3 and a co-operable correspondingly lengthwise bowed shank 4 adapted, as the handles I, 3, are shifted or actuated into and from the respective positions thereof illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, to move between or intermediate the tines of the shank 2, for purposes presently appearing.

Pivotally or swingably secured, as at 2), upon the outer or free end of the shank 4, is a segmental bowl or shell C having initially the approximate shape of a quarter-sphere, the shell or segmentC being, however, cut-awayQas at 0, intermediate its opposite margins and thereby formed to include a pair of integrally joined arcuate bands 5, 6, for purposes also presently appearing.

Pivotally or swingably secured to the shell C by axially aligned rivetsor the like 1 and pivotally or swingably secured, as at d,- d, upon the outer or free end of the tines of the bifurcated shank 2', is a similar quatro-spherically shaped outer shell D sized for embracingly fitting movably over the companion shell C, the shell D being provided with a suitably wide circumferential slot 8 opening centrally to and upon its one or inner margin, as at e, and terminating adjacent the opposite shell-margin f for freely accommodating the pivot b and the lower endportion of the shank 4 as the shells C, D, are pivotally shifted relatively as the members A, B, are pivotally actuated to and from the respective positions thereof illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, and it may be here stated that the handle-portions l, 3, of the members A, B, are approximately of U-shape in transverse section, as indicated, and seated in said handle-portions I,

3, and suitably engaging the pivot a, is a V- shaped flat or leaf-spring 9' for yieldingly retaining the members A; B, and their attached segments C, D, in, and returning the same to, socalled normal open or discharge position, the shells C, D, when in such normal position, being in so-called telescoped or nested relation, that is to say, the skeleton or band shell C fitting snugly within the slotted shell D, as seen in Figures l, 2, and 6.

Accordingly; in use and operation, and in scooping a quantity of ice-cream or the like, the scoop ismanually endwise disposed with the outer margin of its shell D and the outer margin o of the companion shell C resting lightly upon the upper surface of the ice-cream, as indicatedin Figure 6. Then, under suitably applied manual pressure, the shells C, D, are pushed down into the ice-cream until the shell-margins f, g, are slightly embedded and the handles l, 3, concomitantly brought together, against the resiliency of the spring 9, whereupon the pivot b moves outwardly in the slot 8v and between the pivots d, d, and the shells C, D, move from telescoped or nested relation, as in Figures 1, 2, and 6, to open position with their margins f, g, in more or less closely adjacent relation, as in Figures 3 and 7, the shells C,'D, in such movement, co-operably cutting at their said margins f, 9', into the ice-cream and, without any material compacting of the ice-cream, scooping a sphere-like portion thereof for serving.

With the member A, B, and segments C, D, manually retained in such closed or loaded position, the scoop is lifted or removed from the cream. Subsequently, upon closing pressure on the members A, B, being removed or released, the members A, B, returningly move, under the tension of the spring 9, to normal or open position. In such movement, the shells C, D, telescopically return to nested relation and release or discharge their load, the skeleton shell C, at its inner band 6, in such returning movement, functioning to scrape or free the ice-cream from the solid shell D and thereby facilitating the discharge from the scoop of the load.

It will thus be evident that, by my invention, I provide an ice-cream scoop, which is rugged, durable, light in weight, and easily manipulated. Further, the scoop is so uniquely constructed as to eifect a material economy to the ice-cream vendor by reason of the fact that the ball or portion of ice-cream is actually removed or carved, as it may be said, out of the bulk icecream by a cutting action which does not in any way compress the ice-cream or alter its density or texture, the portion or serving of ice-cream delivered by the scoop being visually large, presenting a very pleasing wholesome appearance, and, by reason of its unaltered somewhat inflated density, having a delectable edible texture.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the scoop may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An ice-cream scoop including a pair of companion segments pivotally connected and co-operable for nested relation when in discharge position, and means for actuating the segments pivotally relatively to each other for loading and discharging the scoop.

2. An ice-cream scoop including a pair of companion segments pivotally connected and co-operable for nested relation when in discharge position, and handle-providing members pivotally connected to the segments for swingably actuating the same relatively to each other for loading and discharging the scoop.

3. An ice-cream scoop comprising a pair of companion co-operable segments pivotally connect-ed together and relatively sized for interfittingly nested relation when in full discharge position and for opposing marginal adjacent relation when in full loaded position, and handleproviding members pivotally connected together in scissor-formation and pivotally connect-ed to the segments for swingably actuating the segments relatively to each other for loading and discharging the scoop.

4. An ice-cream scoop comprising a pair of companion co-operable segments pivotally connected together and relatively sized for interfittingly nested relation when in full discharge position and for opposing marginal adjacent relation when in full loaded position, and means for swingably actuating the segments relatively to each other for loading and discharging the scoop, said means including a pair of companion members crosswise pivotally connected together intermediate their ends and comprising handle-portions and shanks, the latter having pivotal connection with the segments.

, 5. An ice-cream scoop comprising a pair of companion co-operable segments pivotally connected together and relatively sized for interfittingly nested relation when in full discharge position and for opposing marginal adjacent relation when in full loaded position, one of said segments having a circumferential slot opening to a margin thereof, and means for swingably actuating the segments relatively to each other for loading and discharging the scoop, said means including a pair of companion members pivotally connected together intermediate their end for scissor-like movement, one of said members being longitudinally elongated and formed to comprise a handle and a bifurcated shank having its tines pivotally connected to said one segment upon opposite sides of its said slot, and the other of said members being longitudinally elongated and formed to comprise a handle and a shank, the latter having pivoted connection with the other shell and being movable in said slot and between said tines on nesting and closing movements of the shells.

6. An ice-cream scoop comprising a pair of companion co-operable segments pivotally connected together and relatively sized for interfittingly nested relation when in full discharge position and for opposing marginal adjacent relation when in full loaded position, the outer one of said segments having a circumferential slot opening to a margin thereof and the inner one of said segments being cut-away to comprise spaced inner and outer bands respectively cooperable with the slotted segment in loading and discharging the scoop, and means for swingably actuating the segments relatively to each other for loading and discharging the scoop, said means including a pair of companion members pivotally connected together intermediate their end for scissor-like movement, one of said members being longitudinally elongated and formed to comprise a handle and a bifurcated shank having its tines pivotally connected to said one segment upon opposite sides of its said slot, and the other of said members being longitudinally elongated and formed to comprise a handle and a shank, the latter having pivoted connection with the other shell and being movable in said slot and between said tines on nesting and closing movements of the shells.

'7. An ice-cream scoop comprising a pair of companion co-operable segments pivotally connected together and relatively sized for interfittingly nested relation when in full discharge position and for opposing marginal adjacent relation when in full loaded position, the outer one of said segments having a circumferential slot opening to a margin thereof and the inner one of said segments being cut-away to comprise spaced inner and outer bands respectively co-operable with the slotted segment in loading and discharging the scoop, means for swingably actuating the segments relatively to each other for loading and discharging the scoop, said means including a pair of companion members pivotally connected together intermediate their end for scissor-like movement, one of said members being longitudinally elongated and formed to comprise a handie and a bifurcated shank having its tines pivotally connected to said one segment upon opposite sides of its said slot, and the other of said members being longitudinally elongated and formed to comprise a handle and a. shank, the latter having pivoted connection with the other shell and being movable in said slot and between said tines on nesting and closing movements of the shells, and means for yieldingly retaining the segments in, and returning the same to, discharge position.

8. An ice-cream scoop comprising a pair of pivoted handles, one of said handles having a pair of laterally spaced arms extending longitudinally outwardly from the pivoted end thereof, the other handle being provided with a single arm also extending longitudinally outwardly from the pivoted end thereof and positioned for swingable movement between the pair of laterally spaced. arms, a segmental shell pivotally mounted centrally of one of its margins upon the outer extremities of the laterally spaced arms, and a second shell pivotally mounted centrally of one of its margins upon the outer extremity of the single arm and rockably secured to the other shell for movement into and out of nested position therein.

9. An ice-cream scoop comprising a pair of pivoted handles, one of said handles having a pair of laterally spaced arms extending longitudinally outwardly from the pivoted end thereof, the other handle being provided with a single arm also extending longitudinally outwardly from the pivoted end thereof and positioned for swingable movement between the pair of laterally spaced arms, a quatro-spherical shell pivotally mounted centrally of one of its margins upon the outer extremities of the laterally spaced arms, and a second. shell pivotally mounted centrally of one of its margins upon the outer extremity of the single arm and rockably secured to the other shell for movement into and out of nested position therein.

10. An ice-cream scoop comprising a pair of pivoted handles, one of said handles having a pair of laterally spaced arms extending longitudinally outwardly from the pivoted end thereof, the other handle being provided with a single arm also extending longitudinally outwardly from the pivoted end thereof and positioned for swingable movement between the pair of laterally spaced arms, a segmental shell pivotally mounted centrally of one of its margins upon the outer extremities of the laterally spaced arms, and a second shell pivotally mounted centrally of one of its margins upon the outer extremity of the single arm and rockably secured to the other shell for movement into and out of nested position therein, said last-named shell being internally provided with an aperture of similar shape to, but of smaller dimension than, the peripheral shape of said shell.

HENRY E. KNAUST. 

